Ok, so I'm a recycle junkie.....I hate to throw anything away that can either be recycled, or reused. Well, last night I was filling my weekly pill container and ended up with 4 empty pill bottles. I thought to myself, millions of these things go into our landfills every year, wouldn't it be great to find something to do with them? So, I used one to put some sewing needles in, used the other for some buttons. I put some thumtacks in one, and the last one I filled with pennies that were in my purse.

I'm sure there's many other things we can do with them. GOT ANY IDEAS?

Hi, I'm a recycle junkie too, and I saved pill bottles for years, hoping they would finally start recycling them......but no one ever did accept them. I finally put them into the earth. :( I've heard that sometimes vets' offices might take them. I've also heard that foreign countries might take them. I'm aghast at how many of these bottle go into landfills. Seems like they could make them out of carboard or at least make them recyclable. I think they are #5s, right? I called around, and nobody could help. I think if companies were held more responsible for the waste that comes from their product, we could make some progress in this area. Sorry I couldn't help! But at least we can commiserate with each other!

I use a bigger one to carry my quarters to the laundromat. I often wondered if the pharmacy would take them back. I know if you have refills, you can carry your bottle and they will reuse it. But yes, I throw a lot of them away and it seems like such a waste, not to mention when they go to the landfills.

Many churches will request your old pill bottles for their seniors, also you can contact a local senior center, they may have need for them for their clients. Also many kindergarten or pre/after school programs may be able to use them for storing craft items.

My pharmacy has a pill bottle drop off and they recycle all the bottles back to be used for new pill bottles. I'd call your pharmacy and ask if they have a drop off first before trying other solutions.Karen

Can't remember where Mom & Dad used to donate theirs but there was some kind of program that gave meds to the needy and they took any and all pill bottles to recycle for their patients. Your pharmacy may have a clue about this.~ Jeannie, Forum Moderator/Diabetes & FibromyalgiaI know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much. ~Mother Teresa

"People are like stained glass windows: They sparkle and shine when the sun's out, butwhen the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light within."- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

to keep: buttons, other small sewing items, screws, nails, picture hanger hooks, cat toys! (my cat loves to roll them around) and be sure to mark what's in them with magic markers. And there must be a way to make Christmas tree ornaments, too....

Prescription/Pill Bottles for DonationPrescription or pill bottles are saved because there are some countries that are so “poor” that they can't afford prescription bottles. Over here, it is illegal to re-use prescription bottles. But in these other countries, they don't have these laws, because they need all of the help that they can get! Please mail them to Amvet´s Post 208, Ladies Auxiliary, 5 South Street, Hudson, MA 01749 and mention the name Deirdre so that they know how you heard about them.

my medications are packaged in a 7 day at a time "webster pack" which i pick up every monday from my chemist. all my pills are in there, seperated into what time of the day they need to be taken etc. its super handy, no bottles, jars etc and at the end of the week, the packaging goes in the recycling.

It works for me!

Maz XX

'He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.' (Psalm 147:3)

The blister packs are a great idea. . . It is what they use in the nursing homes and hospitals. . . Plus if the doc takes you off of something, and you still have pills left, the pharmacy will buy them back (As long as the seal is unbroken:)

Dream as if you'll live forever. . . Live as if you will die today. . .